Class 




Book. l^.^yS-i 



COEBfllGHT DEPOSIT. 



(( 



Sweetness and Light" 



A Volume of Poems 

by 

CHARLES EDSON JUNKINS, A.M., LL.B. 

Former Principal of Thetford Academy ; 

One-time Graduate Student of Broivn University ; 

and Member of the Massachusetts Bar 



1920 

Press of the Kennebec Journal Co. 
Augusta, Maine 






^^^p^ 



Copyright, 1920, by 
CHARLES EDSON JUNKINS 



StP \7 1920©CU576456 



PRELUDE 

I often feel the poet owes 

Apologies, full many, 
To some, not only, of his time, 

Like Lewis, Brooks and Kenney, 

But to some others, who, unborn. 
Will, some day, buy his poems, 

To get possession of them all. 
As if they were bright sea-gems. 

And yet the poet feels, of course. 

His limitations, keenly; 
And hence he tries, and tries, and tries 

To do his work not meanly. 

And all he asks of critics is 
That they may grasp his meaning. 

And realize that, like others, he, 
In Nature's school, is gleaning; 

For if they take an attitude 

That's friendly to the poet, 
They help themselves by quite a bit. 

Although they may not know it. 



OUR OLD DOG SANDY 

Ha, ha ! Our old dog Sandy's 
The best dog that we know. 

His friends are as the sea-sands; 
He has not any foe. 

Old pussy is- his playmate 

And confidential friend. 
They eat and sleep together; 

Each other help do lend. 

Yes, ever as a watch-dog, 
Most faithful is he found. 

Especially, at night-time. 
He makes the air resound. 

In all domestic creatures. 

His interest is keen. 
And when we utter biddy, 

Or horse, or cow, no mean. 

Uncertain understanding. 

By ev'ry means which he 
Can use, by look and actions, 

He shows, plain as can be. 

And not unmindful, either. 
Does our pet, Sandy, seem, 

Of reptiles, birds and woodchucks; 
They make his bright eyes gleam. 



Sweetness and Light 



That Sandy is half human 
In many of his ways, 

To all his friends, admirers, 
His very life betrays. 



We cannot speak of Sandy 
In terms that match his worth, 

His staunch supporters many 
Would overflow with mirth. 



And so we'll end this ditty 
Concerning him, we prize, 

By saying, he's a jewel. 
Through knowledge, not surmise. 



A Volume of Poems 



SONG OF THE SEA 

Dashing, beating, dashing, 
On the gray sea-sand. 

Making plainest discord. 
Like a crazy band, 

Surging, rolling, surging, 
'Gainst the steadfast rocks. 

Studding all the sea-coast. 
Even as the flocks 

Decorate the hillsides. 
In the month of June, 

Much aroused by tempest. 
Ragged seems the tune. 

Which the sea divulges 

In our open ear, 
As we try to listen, 

Like a little dear. 

Seated on a sofa. 

In our bungalow. 
Which we built substantial, 

Many years ago. 

Dashing, beating, dashing, 

All the stormy day, 
Surging, rolling, surging, 

Seem the billows gay; 

Broken and discordant 
Seems to us the tune. 

Coming from the sea-shore, 
On this day in June. 



Sweetness and Light' 



TO THE GRASSHOPPER 

Jump, jump, hop and jump. 

All tke summer day, 
Plaything for the happy farmer, 

Busy, making hay! 

Hop, hop, jump and hop, 

Ev'rywhere we go. 
Over field or plain or pasture, 

Or in meadow low ! 

Jump, jump, hop and jump. 
While, indeed, you may. 

Ere the cruel hen or turkey. 
Take your life away ! 

Hop, hop, jump and hop, 

Strange though seem your way ! 
To yourself, the fowl, the farmer, 

Pleasing is your stay. 



A Volume of Poems 



THE SONG OF THE BROOK 

Down through the meadow all day long, 
Flows on, the brook, from dawn 

To dawn. Incessant music, at 
The bidding of the faun. 

That, o'er the region round about, 

Exerts authority, 
With gentle sway, the brook supplies ; 

And fills, with constant glee. 

All forms of life nearby. The grass, 

The trees, delighted are; 
And their delight reflected is 

By their green garb. From far 

And near come birds of many kinds. 

Attracted by the song 
That issues from the brook, to lave 

Their tiny plumes along 

Its mystic borders, or to flit 

About in neighb'ring trees 
And grasses, searching all the while, 

For food or shelter. Bees 

And butterflies and other kinds 

Of insects are among 
The forms of life that come to pay. 

As others may have sung. 

Respectful visits to the brook 
That from the hillside through 

The meadow flows. Amphibians 
Of diff'rent kinds, not few 



lo "Sweetness and Light 



In numbers, in and near the stream. 
Are found. The fox, the deer, 

The hare, and many other kinds 
Of native beasts, their fear 

Allayed by magic music of 

The ever-singing brook, 
Frequent the stream to quench their thirst. 

Then to some neighb'ring nook 

Which most delightful is, because 
Of trees whose shady boughs 

O'erhang the same, to take retreat. 
That there, quite free from cows 

And sheep that roam the hillsides, here 

And there, beneath the care. 
The watchful care, of shepherds and 

Their trusty dogs, in rare, 

Refreshing slumber they may dwell. 

The herds within the reach 
Of that delightful song respond. 

And their response does teach, 

Like that of all the other forms 

Of life, we've spok'n about. 
The pow'r, the subtle pow'r, the brook, 

Through ceaseless song that's out 

And out delightful to the sense 

And magic-born, may wield 
O'er different kinds of life. And is 

The cause or why still sealed? 



A Volume of Poems li 



THE LANDSCAPE IN OCTOBER 

October — once the eighth, but now the tenth, 

of our revolving months — 
Is with us once again, translating leaves which, 

only recently. 
Were green as emerald, frosts hoar assisting, 

into those which now, 
In ev'ry vale and moor, on ev'ry hill-side, ev'ry- 

where, in all 
The rustic regions, 'round about, display bright 

tints of yellow, red, 
And brown, together with their native green. 

A scene, how beautiful. 
The rural districts now present to view, for all 

with eyes to see! 



12 "Sweetness and Light*" 



CIDER AND VINEGAR 

Sweet cider is the stuff 

That many people like. 
There never is enough 

Of it, in fact, for Pike. 

But cider, sweet at first, 

Grows sour by and by; 
And then, to quench their thirst, 

Men drink it, low and high. 

And sour cider, changed. 

Good vinegar becomes ; 
And yet, some have arranged. 

Themselves to turn to "bums"; 

For all the vinegar. 

They ever seem to make. 
Produced is when a jar 

Of cider strong they take; 

But, since it happens oft. 

That jars of cider old, 
Now flow, both fast and sofl^ 

Although the women scold, 

There ought to be, forsooth, 

Abundance and to spare. 
For Jim and Joe and Ruth, 

Of vinegar that's rare. 



Volume of Poems 13 



THE CIDER-MILL 

October is the month 
In which, as sailors say, 
"Sweet cider flows galore," 

For morning, noon and night, 
And all the hours of day, 
In ev'ry rural clime, 

The cider-mill, so called, 
Proclaims its little tune, 
"Grind, press, grind," 

In sunshine or in rain. 
The sweet, delicious juice! 
Oh, how it bubbles, flows. 

And gurgles, harmless as 
The waters are, that come 
From nature's fountains pure! 

And yet, within its veins. 
Concealed, there lurks the strange 
Potentiality, 

Through which its harmlessness 
Is quite transformed to what 
Is clearly harmfulness. 

"Grind, press, grind," 
Proclaims the cider-mill. 
Which freely now brings forth, 

The old, familiar juice, 
Delicious, harmless, sweet, 
Yet full of secret harm. 



14 "Sweetness and Light' 



JACK FROST 

As the temp'rature falls low, 
And the zephyrs cease to blow- 
In October, comes apace, 
Like a swift steed, in a race. 
Our old friend. Jack Frost, by name, 
Striking, chilling, with the same 
Graceful, charming beauty, he, 
As each one may plainly see, 
All through past eternity. 
Has, perhaps, employed. And we, 
By aurora's early light. 
Ere the sun is shining bright, 
May behold, this time of year. 
All around, both far and near. 
Earth and nature, that were green, 
In the summer, as a bean, 
Growing in its season, now. 
Clothed in garment, anyhow, 
That's resplendent, silv'ry, white, 
What a pretty, pretty sight! 



Volume of Poems 15 



AN EPISODE 

It was a winter evening calm and warm; 

And though the earth embedded was with snow, 

The country roads were worn as smooth and hard 

As adamant. The moon, the satellite of earth, with smile 

ironical as that 
Of fate might seem to some, looked down upon 
The earth. The stars, the planets, all the hosts, 
The countless hosts of heav'n, displayed, we know, 
As many of them are, and have been for 
A time which antedates all records man 
Has left upon the earth, in groups which now 
Are known as constellations, shed, on all 
The regions round about, abundant light. 

And such conditions were one time, long years 
Ago, when youths and maidens gay, from all 
The neighborhood, had planned to congregate 
At our old home, at which we and our friends 
Would meet them, thence together to a lake 
Near by, to wend our happy way, and there 
Upon the lake, as smooth as crystal glass. 
To spend the evening, so to speak, both one 
And all, a skating party blithe and gay. 

But when the party congregated at 
Our home, with me as leader, were about 
To take departure for the lake, there came 
A horseman to our door, borne thither by 
A pacer swift as light, and, leaping down 
With haste from off his trusty beast, with much 
Excitement, met me face to face; and then 
And there, for me and all the others of 



i6 "Sweetness and Light 



Our party, quite reluctantly, since he 

Had come to see our plans would be upset, 

Delivered up the message he had brought, 

Which quite informed us all that Mr. B 

And his devoted wife just fifty years 

Ago that day had "donned the double yoke"; 

That, through himself, to all the dwellers of 

The neighborhood they now were sending what 

They did insist was invitation most 

Emphatic to attend that night, at all 

Events, what they were pleased to call, it seems, 

Their golden wedding, not their silver one. 

Our joy was turned to momentary grief 

Our plans we quickly changed, and quickly towards 

The B's, together, bent our happy way, 

Determined there to have a jolly time, 

In spite of disappointment keen and sore ; 

And such a time we really, truly had. 



A Volume of Poems VJ 



A MARCH FRESHET 

When a school-boy we remember, 

In this section of the country, 

In the month of March, a freshet. 

Such as never since we've seen, e'er 

Pressing 'gainst the framework of the 

Wooden bridges spanning here and 

There the rivers, washed in many 

Cases, clear away, foundations. 

Obstacles impeding, and then. 

These same bridges, onward, in its 

Mighty waters, rushing, roaring. 

Bore to distant places ; sometimes 

Even to the ocean. Workmen, 

Such as engineers, mechanics. 

Masons, set themselves at work, the 

Task of better, stronger bridges. 

O'er the rivers building; and, in 

Just a little lapse of time, their 

Work was well accomplished. Hence, some 

Gain resulted from great losses. 



i8 "Sweetness and Light 



THE CROW AND THE FARMERS 

The greatest pest, perhaps, the farmers have 

To meet in early spring, especially 

In our New England States, which border on 

The broad Atlantic, is the common crow, 

As if in hunger driven mad, he flies 

O'er field and plain to catch a glimpse, perchance, 

Of busy farmers, planting their spring crops. 

Consisting of potatoes and of corn, 

Especially. And, when the farmers' backs 

Are turned, he takes his opportunity 

To plunder and to pillage whatsoe'er 

He can that's pleasing to his taste. The corn 

He digs up and devours upon the spot; 

Potatoes he unearths, and, grasping them 

In his strong talons, flies aloft, to some 

Familiar spot of safety and repose. 

In which a feast, a real symposium. 

For all his friends, he hastens to prepare. 

The farmers, when they learn of what their friend, 
The crow has done to them, or rather to 
Their crops, are moved with indignation and 
A purpose to outwit the crow by hook 
Or crook, or any other means, that they 
May find. Some place, at intervals, upon 
Their planted plots, discarded papers, or 
Such dummies as, with ready skill, their hands 
Have raised. Some make of twine, a network, on 
Their planted plots, or smoky fires maintain 
Upon the same. And some, like sentinels. 
Within proximity of planted plots 



Volume of Poems 19 



Of theirs, stand on their guard for days. 
Such means the farmers use in efforts ^^ 
Out-wit their friend the crow. And, i in fact, 
By any means, they somehow check the course. 
The hungry, greedy bird pursues with zeal 
In ref'rence to their crops, consisting of 
Potatoes and of corn, they labor well. 



20 "Szveetness and Light 



THE POTATO-BEETLE 

When the crow, the 

Sly and cunning crow, the 
Bird we sometimes call the 

Rook, has ceased to 

Plague the farmer. 
Raising havoc with his 
Corn as well as with his 

Pommes de terre, the 

Colorado 
Beetle causes him a 
Valiant, ceaseless battle, 

To protect the 

Leaves and stocks of 
His potatoes from the 
Deadly ravages that 

Insect may, if 

Left alone to 
Execute its own sweet 
Purpose, soon inflict, in 

Fact, upon them. 

Early in the 
Month of June the beetle 
Lays upon the leaves of 

The potato- 



Volume of Poems 21 



Plant its tiny, 

Yellow eggs. So shy and 

Cunning is the parent- 
Insect that it 

Often dodges, 

Falls, and thus escapes the 
Cruel hand, the farmer, 

In his somewhat 

Urgent need, it 

Seems, extended has to 

Pick it. In the latter 
Part of June the 

Beetles' eggs are 

Hatched, and beetles young their 

Devastating work so 
Pleasing to their 

Kind or class, they 
Now begin. The farmer 
Vexed almost beyond the 

Pow'r of what is 

Known as real or 
True endurance, hastens 
His potato-vines to 

Spray, forthwith, with 

Arsenate of 
Lead. And soon another 
Of the farmer's plagues is 

Lifted from him. 



22 "Sweetness and Light 



TO THE MAN IN THE MOON 

O man in the moon, 
Old man in the moon, 
Dear man in the moon. 
Old man, dear man, to me! 

Your smile is unchanging; 
From fall until spring. 
From spring until fall, 
Ever, it's ever the same. 

It's also impartial. 
For aye and forever, 
Impartial to all 
That dvirell on the earth. 

It's the same for the rich; 
The same for the poor; 
The same for the great; 
The same for the humble. 

It's the same for the strong; 
The same for the weak; 
It's the same for all classes 
And orders of people. 

O man in the moon. 
Old man in the moon. 
Dear man in the moon. 
Old man, dear man, to me! 



A Volume of Poems 23 



POLITICS OF MUTT AND JEFF 

Ah, Mutt and Jeff are two great lads, in politics, to-day, 
While politicians sound and great are sure to have their way ! 
Forbidden by dire circumstance, the biggest toads to be, 
That swim the muddy, seething pool, in which engulfed, 

we see, 
The world of politics, both Mutt and Jeff employment find 
In tactics dili'tory, such in character, in kind. 
As common fools and those unskilled in business ways, 

might use. 
But Mutt and Jeff, of wrong intent, we never should accuse. 

Yes, wheels of time, or wheels of history, in some degree. 
Seem backward e'er to turn. When Cicero, who chanced to be 
A famous consul of old Rome republican, became 
Informed that Catiline conspiracy had planned, so lame 
And wretched was his life, against his native land, in one 
Of his Invectives said in irony, or wit, or fun. 
That, though the State had len'ent been, 'twas not his fault, 

in fact. 
But that attaching to the times. What skill, adroitness, tact I 

And history, yes, life itself, abounds in cases that 
Do tend to show that politics of Mutt and Jeff seem pat. 
Both ev'rywhere and always, in a world of ways and means, 
A world so great, so comprehensive that its kings, its queens. 
Its rulers, one and all, no less than those who somehow find 
Their calling in the lower ranks, are seared by ev'ry kind 
Of understanding, which, in part, of pure necessity, 
Misunderstanding is, and was, and ever is to be. 



24 "Sweetness and Light 



PUSSY-CAT 

Pussy, little pussy, 

With her fur so soft and warm ! 
Pussy, little pussy. 

Well equipped for storm or cold ! 

Yet, beneath the stove that's 
In our kitchen quaint and old, 

When the weather's cold or 
Stormy, pussy likes to lie. 

And at times to stretch her 
Kinky limbs and body, in 

Truest cat-like fashion, 

Singing, now and then, with what 

Seems to be contentment 

Pure and simple, pussy's song, 
Which, unchanging, is a 

Monotone that's all her own. 

Pussy has no "sweet-tooth," 
Such as others seem to have; 

But, on "hearty things," she 
Likes, at least, three times a day, 

Sumpt'ously to feast. And 

Pussy is no peace-maker; 
Constant, deadly warfare. 

Ever she pursues on mice. 



A Volume of Poems 25 



Rabbits, squirrels, birds and 
Rats and other forms of life 

Lowly in their nature, 
And, to cap the climax, we may 

Say of pussy, that, with 

All her strength and weakness, she's 
Plain and simple pussy. 

Pussy, pussy, pussy-cat. 



26 "Sweetness and Light' 



OUR PET SQUIRREL 

In our back yard lives a squirrel, 

Just a cunning, little squirrel. 

He's not red, but gray in color, 

Silver-gray, and very pretty. 

And he likes to play with biddies. 

For he knows they will not harm him. 

But the pussy he is shy of. 

Though she does not seem disposed, in 

Any way, to harm him, for she 

Knows, instinctively, perhaps, that 

He's a little pet of ours, that 

Not allowed is she to trouble. 

In a corner of our back yard, 
In the hollow of a tree, that's 
Very aged, this gray squirrel, 
Has a cozy little dwelling, 
Though it's large enough for him and 
All his choicest winter stores, that. 
In the main, consist of nuts and 
Apples and the like, which, in the 
Cold or stormy days of winter. 
When the earth is covered deep with 
Snow, and sustenance denies him, 
Splendidly, a feast afford him. 

During all the days of autumn 
And of early winter this cute 
Creature is most busy at his 
Work of getting stores for winter. 
In the warm and sunny days of 



Volume of Poems 27 



Winter how the little fellow 

Likes to run and jump, from branch to 

Branch, from tree to tree, or, basking 

In the sunlight, loud to chatter ! 

Of our pets, the squirrel, that lives 

Near us, in our back yard, is, to 

Say the least, one of the choicest. 



28 "Sweetness and Light 



THE HUMBLE BEE 

Busy is the bee, the humble, 
Humble bee, that gathers 
Nectar sweet, from flowers of 

Many kinds, in days of summer. 

Moving constantly, from flow'r to 
Flow'r, from plant to plant, the 
Little insect mingles 

Monotones of humming, ceaseless 

Humming, with his other labors. 

Busy as the bee, and 

Self-forgetful, too, as 
He, we would that, somehow, we might 

Be, both now and always. Human, 

Simply human, hope we 

To remain; but freedom. 
Greater freedom, do we long for. 



A Volume of Poems 29 



TO THE BUTTERFLY 

Pretty little butterfly, 

Dressed in colors very gay, 

Now, in fact, not bye-and-bye, 
Just a ditty, just a lay, 

To thyself we'll dedicate. 

Those who study insect life, 
Find, it seems, without a doubt, 

Creatures beautiful are rife; 
But afflicted with the gout. 

Or some other worse disease, 

Must they really, truly be. 

If, when noting all thy charms. 

Which no one can fail to see, 
Though, devoted to our farms. 
Such a one be not, indeed. 

They thyself do not pronounce 
E'en more beautiful, by far, 

Than all other insects, ounce. 
Ounce by ounce, or jar by jar. 
Or, in other coml'er ways. 

Reckoned or considered. In 

This, a little tribute, that 
To thy signal beauty, din, 

Sifiiply, to pure lustre pat. 

Rightly, nobly, seeks to add. 

We're not sorry, but we're glad. 

Opportunity that's such 
As it is, nor good, nor bad. 

Rests with us just now, to touch, 
At a chord, responsive, true. 



30 "Sweetness and Light 



THE MUD- WASP 

Building on the door-step 
Of our cottage old, 

In the days of summer, 
In the law we're told. 

Trespass is the tort, the 
Wasp does perpetrate. 

First of our impressions, 
Which we may relate, 

In the court an action. 
Trespass on the case, 

Quare clausum f re git, 
Trespass, either, base. 

Base as any charge of 
Trespass seem to be, 

Is to prosecute. But 
How we tremble. Gee, 

As we think of many 

Mystifying ways 
Which are exercised by 

Courts of justice! Bays 

Anywhere a dog, in 
Awe at what we call 

Luna or the moon, with 
Less avail, withal. 



Volume of Poems 31 



Than do many men seek 
Justice at the courts? 

Then a thought occurs to 
Us which us transports 

Far above the realms of 
Things that are, at least, 

More or less uncertain, 
There alone to feast 

On whatever chance or 

Probability- 
Otherwise we'd have to 

Win, to win, by Gee, 

Justice that would be, in 
Fact, substantial, though 

Intervention of the 
Court of law, we know, 

Our intention it is 

Not to seek. And this. 
This the plan, we make and 

Soon, with ample bliss, 

Execute. The structures 
Of the mud-wasp, placed 

On our door-step, plan we 
To remove. Abased, 



32 "Sweetness and Light 



Then the mud-wasp, saucy 

And impertinent, 
Ought, no doubt, to be. But, 

Should he, like one sent, 

Bent to do us mischief, 

Still persist in that 
Which he has begun, then, 

Ready as a cat. 

Watching for her prey, he'll 
Find us, fixed in will, 

Resolute in purpose, 
Him with awe to fill. 



Volume of Poems 33 



TO THE WOODCHUCK 

Here, here, old fellow, we meet you, to-day, 

Feasting, heartily feasting, upon our beets, our 

Cabbages, lettuce, and legumes all. Now, in 

Strict and limited justice, stern are the measures 

Which we should exercise firmly against you ; but 

Since, in the hard school of life, we've learned, the justice, 

The common-sense justice of many a one. 

True mercy should temper, list to a tale, 

Which we'll tell you, about a contention, which. 

Long, long ago did arise, between two brothers, 

Over a woodchuck, which they had caught in a box-trap. 

Thus to restrain him from working injury to the 

Veg'tables, which, in their father's garden, were growing. 

List to the tale, and know full well, that with its 

Moral, he, who accosts you, is fully delighted. 

Right in the midst of a noisy contention, which the 
Brothers were having over the creature which they, 
Haply, had captured, appeared their father, care-worn. 
Aged, yet, mentally strong, and in judgment mature and 
Ripe as the sages, the office of judge to assume in 
Refrence to matters concerning the woodchuck, while the 
Brothers, as counselors, one as complainant, the other, 
Noble defendant, most feverently argued the case. 
When the young counselors, each, in his way, had argued 
Fully, his cause, their father, at once, a judgment, 
Which, in its substance, now follows, seems to have rendered. 
Noble, the cause of the woodchuck. Ever and always, 
Ought we the cause representing all life of the earth, all 



;34 "Sweetness and Light 



Liberty, also, boldly and firmly defend. 

Never a woodcuck, with our consenting, shall forfeit 

Life, that, to him, is both precious and sweet, just because he 

Eats of the things, that our garden produces ; no, never. 

Unto a forest that's distant, secluded, take the 

Woodchuck, O sons, and, op'ning his prison, set him 

Free as the birds, that sing in the tree-tops delightful. 



Volume of Poems 35 



THE TADPOLE 

Pretty little tadpole, 
Swimming in the mud-pool, 
Swimming in the mud-pool; 
Pretty little tadpole^ 
Swimming in the mud-pool; 

Wiggling, wiggling, wiggling. 
Through the shallow water, 
Through the shallow water; 
Wiggling, wiggling, wiggling. 
Through the shallow water; 

Growing in the sunlight. 
Growing in the shadow. 
Growing in the shadow; 
Growing in the sunlight. 
Growing in the shadow; 

Growing, ever growing, 
Head and tail and body, 
Head and tail and body; 
Growing, ever growing. 
Head and tail and body. 

Soon, from out the water, 
Frog-like, if not tailless. 
Frog-like, if not tailless ; 
Soon, from out the water, 
Frog-like, if not tailless, 



^6 "Sweetness and Light 



To the land he scrambles, 
Dearest little creature, 
Dearest little creature; 
To the land he scrambles, 
Dearest little creature. 

In both land and water, 
He will spend his future, 
He will spend his future; 
In both land and water. 
He will spend his future. 



Like a true amphib'an. 
Living and enjoying, 
Living and enjoying; 
Like a true amphib'an. 
Living and enjoying. 



A Volume of Poems 37 



THE SONG OF THE CRICKET 

Chirp, chirp, chirp ! 

Sharp and shrill's the note, comes. 

Emanating from the 

Cricket, in the summer 

Time when ev'ning sun is 

Low, and calm and still, ere 

Long, begin to fall the 

Shades of coming darkness. 

Chirp, chirp, chirp ! 

In the rural ears, which 

Cannot help acquiring. 

True appreciation 

Of its charming beauties, 

Lodgment finds the chirping 

Of the little insect. 

That we call the cricket. 

Chirp, chirp, chirp ! 
Ever, in the future, 
To each generation, 
Must the cricket sing its 
Little note, which, to each 
Heart attuned to nature, 
Is a source of joy and 
Holy inspiration. 



38 "Sweetness and Light 



RETURN, OUR COLLEGE-DAYS 

Return, our college-days. 
Our grand old college-days, 
Abounding in large measure, 
In man-enobling pleasure. 
Return, our college-days. 

Return, our college-days. 

Too swiftly did you fly. 

So full of life's true meaning. 
On which our soul is leaning. 

Return, our college-days. 

Return, our college-days. 
And with us e'er abide, 

A noble inspiration, 

Whate'er our work or station. 
Return, our college-days. 

Return, our college-days, 

The best days of our life. 
And make for us a dwelling, 
All other things excelling. 

Return, our college-days. 



Volume of Poems 39 



FIGURES OF SPEECH 

If true it be that two important qualities 

Of English style are force and beauty, as in school 

Our goodly teachers taught us years ago, and as 

Maturer years have caused us fully to believe, 

It follows, clear as day itself, that ev'ry means 

Legitimate should be employed by those who seek 

Success and fame, as masters of a noble style 

Of lit'rature, whereby they may express, as much 

As possible, these qualities. And nothing is, 

Which more can add of force and beauty to one's style 

Than proper use of language that abounds in what 

Are sometimes called expressions allegorical. 

Or fig'rative, to use a somewhat broader term. 

The simile is an expressed comparison 

Between such objects as belong to classes of 

A different kind. If we compare a person to 

A tree, a candle to an act of kindness, or 

A beehive to a school-room, we may form what's called 

A simile. The best of similes are those 

In which the objects subject to comparison 

Have one and only one respect in which they bear 

Resemblance each to each. The simile is quite 

Familiar to us all, and hence we feel that one 

Example will suffice to make it clear just what 

It is or seems to be. A good example this : 

How very far that little candle throws its beams ! 

So shines a good deed in a naughty, naughty world. 



4© "Sweetness and Light 



The metaphor, just like the simile, is used 
For purpose of comparison. The metaphor 
Is used for purpose of implied comparison, 
Whereas the simile is used for purpose of 
Expressed comparison. And in the simile 
We say an object like another is, but in 
The metaphor we say an object really is 
Another, as is clearly shown in this concrete 
Example : There, in France, our boys, a wall of stone, 
A tow'r of adamant, must fight and help to win 
The war that's being waged for world-democracy. 

Person'fication is a form of metaphor 

In which life is attributed to objects that 

Are sometimes called inanimate, or, as it seems. 

In many cases, it's a form of metaphor 

In which the qualities of persons are assigned 

To objects, animals, or e'en those thoughts such as 

Are sometimes called abstract. Examples are : The day 

Is done; and slowly, from the scene, the stooping sun 

Upgathers his spent shafts. And soon old nature, worn 

By toils and cares of day, seeks for herself a couch, 

A golden couch, on which to rest her weary head. 

Apostrophe is like person'fication, but 

It has a char'cteristic in addition to 

Person'fication. When directly we address 

Inan'mate objects, or the absent ones, as if 

They present were, we have the figure called by some 

Apostrophe. Example is : O death ! Where is. 

Where is thy sting ? O grave ! Where is, where is, I pray, 

Thy seeming victory, if God or Love be all? 



Volume of Poems 41 



Metonymy consists in substitution of 

One object for another one, the objects so 

Associated being that the mention of 

The one suggests the other. And examples these : 

Lord Tennyson, in full, the young men of our school, 

Are reading, with much zest. Each Hamlet heard the call. 

Synecdoche consists in substituting part 

Of any object for the object as a whole. 

Or else the object as a whole for part of it. 

Examples two : Ten masts now hove in view. Ring out 

A thousand years of woe, ring in a lasting peace. 

In saying just the opposite from what we mean, 
But in a way that emphasizes what we mean. 
Does irony consist. Example : What, what has 
The aged pris'ner done ? Has murder stained his hands 
With gore ? Not so ; his crimes's a fouler one by far. 
In spite of all his toil, God made the old man poor. 

Hyperbole is an exaggerated form 

Of statement that's devised, in larger measure, to 

Increase effectiveness of language, as is shown 

In these expressions : James, you Hft your hoe a mile 

Too high ! My brother John's a man of boundless skill. 

Antithesis consists in statements that are said 
To be contrasted, and is found, sometimes, confined 
To single sentences, sometimes, extended through 
An entire paragraph. Example : Seem polite 
And courteous and true to all with whom you may 
Associate; but be quite other than you seem. 

It's climax that consists of words or thoughts such as 
Arranged in an ascending series are. A good 
Example of the figure climax is : Come now. 
My boy, my precious boy, be strong, be brave, be true ! 



42 "Sweetness and Light 



. DEISM 

Deism, thou art product of old Rome; 

And insep'rably united 
To thyself is destiny or fate. 

The decaying faith of Rome in 
Gods and goddesses, in course of time, 

Substituted was, in many 
Cases, by thyself, the simplest and 

Crudest of all faiths, that wedded 
To a universal Being are. 

Thou doest teach that God created that, 

Which we call the universe, and 
Straightway left it to itself, to work 

Out its plans and purposes, as 
Best it could ; and hence, it seems, that thou 

Dost reject the Christian doctrine 
Known as revelation, none the less 

Than that other Christian doctrine 
Known by some, at least, as immanence. 



Volume of Poems 43 



ATHEISM 

Some there were among the ancients, 

At the time when ancient Rome was in full sway, 
Who could see no satisfact'ry 

Reason, for believing in a Deity, 
Such as Deism postulated; 

So they quite denied, it seems, the postulate 
Known as God, and hence, devoid of 

Faith, according to the meaning which attached. 
In the early days, to such a 

Word as that, with which the English word, "faith,' 
Ever should agree in meaning. 

They received from some the appellation known 
Commonly, as "infidels," and 

So we see, that, strictly speaking, infidels 
Are but atheists, as, also. 

Infidelity is only atheism. 



44 "Sweetness and Light 



AGNOSTICISM 

Agnosticism, of ancient origin, 

In many ages, climes, has lived, although 
Most inconsistent with itself it's been, 

And much opposed, alike, by friend and foe. 
It holds itself unable to affirm. 

Or to deny there is a life we call 
The Deity, the perfect seed, or germ, 

From which it's claimed, the world proceeds. A wall 
Of doubt, in ref'rence to the world of things, 

Agnosticism has seldom tried to rear; 
And if, consistently, it really brings 

Itself to face the truth, without a fear, 
It ought to entertain, at least sincere 

Opinions of the Deity, or God, 
And nevermore, with sullenness, adhere 

To what is called "a silly, useless hod." 



Volume of Poems 45 



PANTHEISM 

Pantheism's a doctrine old, and yet, it's young, for 
Millions of the sons of earth still bow, in humble 
Rev'rence, at its shrine. Monistic, or Platonic, 
Or Spinozan, or, in gen'ral, ide'listic. 
As philosophers and scholars might still tell us. 
Pantheism's a doctrine, that denies all matter. 
As unreal, or non-existent, claiming God's the only 
Life there is. So, in the light of pantheism, all 
Knowledge, like all life, without the intervention 
Of what scientists call matter, comes directly 
From on High. So, immanence and inspiration, 
Are, of pantheism, perhaps, most precious doctrines. 



46 "Sweetness and Light' 



UNITY OF FAITH 

The pessimist will tell you how, 

It's folly we should hope, 

Successfully to cope. 
With those that ever stoop and bow. 

He says that most men lacking are 

In honor, justice and 

In truth, and are a band 
Of helpless creatures that are far 

Too base and mean to be above 
Contempt that's utter and 
Unchangeable, since fanned 

They're bound to be by pride and love, 

By bigotry and hate, as well 

As selfishness, of shapes. 

Which not the lowest apes 
Would strive to emulate, so fell 

And loathsome they appear to be. 

But are we ready, you 

And I, as but a few. 
And not the rank and file, which we 

Are wont to rev'rence more and more, 

In all the ages past 

Have done, down, down to cast 
Our hopes and nevermore adore 



Volume of Poems 47 



The rising structure of a world 

Begun? No, never, may 

Such attitude, we pray, 
Be ours ! For us is now unfurled, 

We trust, the starry banner borne 

By all the optimists, 

Who know that, in His fists. 
Our Father holds the reins, though worn. 

Or torn, or tattered, even, they 

May sometimes seem to be. 

Our Father is not free. 
We do not hesitate to say. 



To make the world from blemish free 

In twinkling of an eye; 

And yet, for low and high, 
For all the forms of life that be 

In heav'n and earth, we rest assured. 

He's doing what he can. 

In ways, which not a man. 
That anywhere exists, allured 

By human understanding, can 

Completely comprehend. 

And yet, O Lord, do send 
A vision clearer, unto man, 

Of all thy ways, in firmament 

Above, in earth beneath ; 

To him, O Lord, bequeath 
More knowledge of all things, now lent, 



48 "Sweetness and Light 



As part and parcel of Thyself, 

To him, it seems, as one 

In Many, that old gun, 
Philosophers, against the elf 

Of ignorance, have fired, almost 

Since time began, although 

We must concede that, so 
Constructed by the brilliant host 

Of thinking men, this ancient gun 

Has ever been, it seems. 

That whenso'er the beams 
Of scientific light, that run 

A constant course, through space and time, 
Should suffer change, perhaps. 
Within a gen'ral lapse 

Of time, new-modeled, for a dime 

Or so, both ever and anon. 

It might become. But, w^hat. 

Away, the cords can cut, 
That keep at bay, from dawn to dawn, 

While still it blows its golden horn. 
The noblest friend of all 
The earth, which, now, we call. 

Faith unified, with scorn? 



Volume of Poems 49 



THE CRITIC 

Ah ! the critic ! What a man, 
Drumming at his old tin pan! 

Drumming, drumming, ever drumming, 
Drumming at his old tin pan ! 

Other men endowed with sense. 
Straddle, straddle, ev'ry fence, 

Straddle, straddle, somehow straddle, 
Straddle, straddle, ev'ry fence, 

But the critic drums away. 
Melancholy, seldom gay, 

At his dull and cheerless music, 
Melancholy, seldom gay. 

"Hush !" my heav'nly muse declares. 
Fearing neither bulls nor bears. 

Interposing for my profit. 
Fearing neither bulls nor bears. 

"Foster-child, advice I give. 
Borrowed from a witch's sieve; 
And I know it's not offensive, 
Borrowed from a witch's sieve. 

Narrow seems, indeed, your view. 
Of the many and the few. 

Of the critic and the common. 
Of the many and the few. 



50 "Sweetness and Light 



Some with lives that seem at ease, 
Ever busy, like the bees, 

On formalities are nourished, 
Ever busy, like the bees. 

Some with lives quite full of strife. 
Such, indeed, are few nor rife, 
On totalities are nourished, 
Such, indeed, are few nor rife. 

And these latter, in Life's stream, 
Howsoe'er to some it seem, 

Feel they are, and e'er progressing, 
Howsoe'er to some it seem. 

But the former hold a view, 
And their number is not few, 

Fed by reason long respected, 
And their number is not few. 

Foster-child, take my advice. 
Take it like a show'r of rice. 

Try to learn each man's a critic, 
Take it like a show'r of rice." 



A Volume of Poems 51 



THE CRIMINAL 

The criminal! "But who is he?" 

How silly and, withal, how like 

An ignoramus do you seem ! 

The criminal is one who breaks 

The laws enacted to protect 

The social order from the foul 

Aggressions of the few, who seem 

To lack, in measure great, a sense 

Of honor and propriety, 

Such as the man who murders, steals, 

Or arson does commit. "Indeed, 

According to the law, man-made, 

Your definition as to him 

Who is the criminal seems just. 

But in the contemplation of 

A higher law, as yet, not well 

Defined, does not the criminal 

Include man universal, and 

Each form of universal life 

Embraced within a common Whole, 

Whose all-pervading consciousness 

Works night and day, and all the while, 

A moral order stronger to 

Efifect within Her growing Self?" 



52 "Sweetness and Light 



DEATH 

O death, we've asked you gently, gently, for 

A long, long course of years, what are, indeed. 

Your nature and your purport; but you've been 

So tardy at the task of answer to 

Our question making, that we feel, we're still, 

Still lacking, in true knowledge of yourself. 

And yet, in measure quite sufficient, to 

Our oft-repeated question, hints that show. 

In manner worthy, what your answer to 

Our question ought to be, ten-thousand times 

You've freely, freely given. Let us see. 

In youth's green spring, we did perceive the fact, 
That you o'erpower all forms of life; again. 
When little older, we perceived that you, 
In subtle ways, stay with the world of life, 
With which, a constant struggle, for a good. 
Yea, holy cause, you seem to wage; then we 
Perceived the good, the holy cause, for which 
Eternal struggle, in the world, 'twixt you 
And life, goes on, no other is than that 
Of evolution, growth, or progress, which 
Is constant, ceaseless, never-ending, and 
Identical with that of Deity. 



Volume of Poems 53 



CONVENTIONALITY OF CHURCH 

Conventionality of Church, which still 
Conceals, from view of very many, that, 
In numbers, fewer, ev'ry year, become, 
The fuller, grander truths of Being, serves 
A purpose, only in a social life, 
, Which still is far from being able, both 
To understand and to appreciate. 
Scholasticism, which known and taught among 
The early Fathers of the Church once was, 
No less, indeed, than that, which now assumes 
A later, newer, form, in which, it seems, 
The most accomplished scholars of our time 
Are fully trained. "Give us the truth, the truth 
That's pure and holy, undefiled as that. 
Which sacred is to priest, philosopher, 
Or scientist," the watchword of the hour, 
Is growing stronger, clearer, all the while. 



54 "Sweetness and Light 



THE CHURCH-BELLS 

It's a splendid Sabbath morning 

(Ev'ry morning splendid is, 
Whether couched in sunshine or in 

Storm) ; and, ev'rywhere, in fact. 
Ring the church-bells, through the would-be 

Balmy, mystic air. The bells, 
Ev'rywhere, the church-bells, mundane, 

Earthly; mystic, heav'nly, ring, 
To the world proclaiming tidings. 

Blessed, holy tidings, that. 
Laden are, with useful purport. 

Ring? Yes, ev'rywhere the 

Church-bells ring, to bring to us, 
On this splendid Sabbath morning, 

Tidings, sweetest, truest, best, 
That the mystic ages of the 

Past, together with what now, 
Scientific ages, we are 

Pleased to term, "by hook or crook," 
Somehow can, no doubt, afford us. 



A Volume of Poems 55 



THAT MORNING SPLENDID OF A BRIGHT 
THANKSGIVING DAY 

Ah, indeed, it was a morning 

In the distant long ago ! 
And Thanksgiving morning was it; 

And the landscape white as snow. 

Silver-coated, bright and shiny, 

Even dazzling to the eyes, 
Ev'ry tree, in all its parts, that, 

Reaching upward towards the skies. 

To the eye, a weighty mass, which. 

Was, indeed, a gorgeous sheen. 
In a splendid way presented. 

How delightful was the scene ! 

On the scene we gazed with rapture. 

Till our eyes were dim as night, 
Till refreshing sleep involved us. 

In its overpow'ring might. 

Then, indeed, a dream engaged us. 
Which, of course, we must relate. 

Borne along on wings of rapture, 
Which, it seems, would not abate, 

Many places, near and distant, 

We surveyed with eager eyes, 
Not a mortuary saw we. 

Anywhere, beneath the skies. 



56 "Sweetness and Light' 



Till, at an odd, distant hamlet, 
Primitive and even weird, 

Quickly we did stop, and quickly, 
With our rigging rightly geared. 

Once again prepared to journey. 

But, before we took our leave, 
Listen to a tale of what was 

Our experience. And cleave, 

Not at all, to what may seem its 
Lit'ral meaning. Viewing it, 

Saw we that the hamlet was a 
Real necropolis, a bit, 

Not to say the least, peculiar. 

Since, among its countless dead. 

It included all its living. 

Poorly housed and meanly fed. 

To these people that were living 
With the dead, as quickly as 

Anyhow we could, we shouted. 
Loud as ever thunder has 

Sounded, in the hottest days of 
Summer. This is what we said : 

QUIT YE, NOW_, YE LWING, THIS^ THE 
LITTLE CITY OF THE DEAD ! 

All at once a local priest, who, 
Walking down a near-by hill, 

Then had been, began towards us to 
Run, to wave his hand, and fill 



A Volume of Poems 57 



All the air with shouts, that, ringing, 
Soon, distinctly, reached our ears. 

Drawing near the priest addressed us : 
Never entertaining fears, 

Dare you try pervert our people? 

Foolish, wicked man! You know 
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing! 

Soon, no doubt, you'll dare to go 

Into holy Church, and there, in 

Public service, criticise, 
What we prize so dearly, as our 

Common, Christian faith. Get wise !" 

We're not interested, chiefly. 
In church dogmas, we declared. 

Adding, we don't have to stand your 
Precepts, teachings, and are glad. 

At this juncture we awoke, and. 

Not so stupid, not so dull. 
That we felt no sense of joy, that 

Life is neither void nor null. 

Ever since that morning splendid. 
Of a bright Thanksgiving Day, 

So eventful, so impressive. 
And the subject of this lay, 

We have pondered o'er its meaning, 
Time and time and time again. 

Till, at last, it's dawned upon us 
To transcribe it with our pen. 



58 "Sweetness and Light 



ART AND NATURE 

Ev'ry good deed, wrought by human skill or knowledge, 

Is a work of art. And art, indeed, should never 

Be opposed to nature, as some ancient schools of 

Art, in ignorance, once taught; but should conform to 

Nature, constantly in all its moods and fashions, 

Imitating all its laws of truth and beauty, 

And variety that's endless, endless as the 

Infinite Himself. Yes, Turner and the school that's 

Called Turnerean, praised by Ruskin, in his Modern 

Painters, shows the way which modern art should travel. 

In this way, suggested by the school of Turner, 
Should all art forever journey, growing better, 
Grander, nobler, as it passes, passes down the 
Corridors of time. And, not alone each fine art. 
Such as poetry, music, architecture, painting, 
Sculpture, or the like, but, also, ev'ry art that's 
Known as useful, like a trade, profession, or some 
Line of work that's known as business, emphasized in 
Ever-growing measure, men of each succeeding 
Generation, doubtless, should behold with pleasure. 



A Volume of Poems 59 



ST. NICHOLAS 

Old Santa Claus, a saint renowned, 

Immortalized in Christendom, 
On Christmas eve, is ever found 

From place to place to spin and hum, 
His reindeer driving at full speed. 

His sleigh packed full of things that please 
The child, and tend to sow the seed, 

Which, busy, like the rolling seas. 
In course of time, may oft produce. 

The fruit of honor and renown, 
In places, in which grave abuse. 

The strongest spirits may cast down. 

Old Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, 

Whom, in our early childhood days. 
We did revere, each one of us. 

Is just as dear, in many ways, 
To children, as he used to be, 

For childhood life is much the same, 
As each of us may plainly see. 

With people all, whatever name 
Or nationality they own. 

Regardless of the age or clime. 
In which they live. Though not alone. 

This saint may well survive all time. 



6o "Sweetness and Light 



THE NEW YEAR 

December thirty-first is here, 
The last day of the fleeting year. 
Yes, very soon the bright new year. 
Expelling ev'ry dread and fear, 
Will fill each aching heart with cheer, 
We trust, and prove itself, indeed, 
A mighty godsend to the earth. 

How swiftly come the years and roll. 
As part and parcel of the Whole, 
A self-supporting Life or Soul, 
Forever moving towards the goal. 
The pantheistic, mystic goal, 
Conceived, perhaps, in Eastern climes. 
Some cent'ries ere the birth of Christ! 

Life seems so full of meaning great. 

And good, and strong, we can but hate 

Hypocrisy, which should abate. 

In ev'ry form, in ev'ry state, 

Not sometime, at some distant date. 

But even now, right now, and here. 

And yet all progress must be slow. 

Each year a greater heritage 
Brings forth, to swell the mighty page 
Of Time, which ever does engage 
Its faculties, though blindness rage. 
To thwart its purpose, like a cage, 

That holds, confined, a captured beast. 

Each year brings more abundant life. 



Volume of Poems 6i 



MYTH IN LITERATURE 

Myth is fab'lous story that's designed 
To enforce some moral precept. "Find, 
Find me", do you say, "concrete examples 
To illustrate what you mean by words you've 
Used so aptly and so strangely in the 
Definition that you've kindly given''\ 

What you want is easy to obtain, 

For the field of lit'rature, to gain 
An important object, comprehends a 
Great variety of cases such as 
May afford examples numerous, a 
Few of which may satisfy our longings. 

If it's really true that platitude. 

Just as well as paradox, in rude 
Times, before the age of reason, for the 
Masses, has begun to ripen, serves a 
Noble purpose, in the hands of sages, 
Warriors, bards and priests and prophets. 

Then it follows as a sequence that 
All our early records seem to "chat" — 
If it proper be to use a trope — of 
Myth or fable. Aesop, Pindar, Homer, 
Virgil, Dante, Bunyan, Milton, writers 
Of the Bible, and a host of others, 



62 "Sweetness and Light 



Famous have become for use of myth or 

Fable; and, to use a common saw, 
Since the advent of the novel, all or 
Nearly all the novelists, of course, have 
Made both wide and varied use of myth or 
Fable in some shape or form or other. 

Now let's have concrete examples, brief, 

Simple, terse, of myth, and then relief 

Must I grant you for a time. But two, and 
Only two examples, for our purpose, 
Will suffice. The first of these is taken 
From old Homer's Odyssey. It follows. 

Great Ulysses bound for Argos and 

Famous Ithaca, his native land. 

Destined was to steer his course quite near the 
Isle so white with bones, where dwelt the Sirens, 
Goddesses, whose pleasing task it was to 
Sing and play with golden harps that they might 

Tempt the sailors, plowing through the deep. 
Straightway on their shores so very steep. 
Each and all, their ships to moor, with transport, 
That, for them, the bodies of their men might 
Sumpt'ous feast supply. Ulysses warned his 
Men that, if they would avert what seemed most 

Dire misfortune, they should take of him 
What he thought was best of council. Slim, 
Very slim, Ulysses thought his men would 
Be in face of such enticements as might 
Come, in torrents, from the deadly, deadly 
Shores. Then hastily, and in their presence, 



A Volume of Poems 63 



Both his ears he stuffed with wax, and then, 
Straightway, all his boon companions, when 
Nothing loth, they saw their leader's bold, yet 
Wise example, stuffed their ears, each one, with 
Pliant wax, and then, returning to their 
Benches, worked again, their oaken oars, with 

Strokes redoubling, and, forthwith, unharmed, 
And, withal, it seems, not even charmed. 
Once, for all, with their brave captain artful, 
Fled the Sirens and their baleful shores. Thus, 
Thus concludes the first of our examples, 
Which are given to illustrate myth or 

Fable. Milton's theme that's known to deal. 
Splendidly, as each and all must feel, 
With the subject Paradise, which once was 
Lost, the fable holds, and then regained, will. 
Mainly for the simple reason that it's 
Known so commonly, of course, suffice for 

My example, number two. I think, 
Such a theme as this has caused to drink, 
Gently, if not deeply, of the fount of 
Myth or fable, whomsoever's read the 
Same, as treated by the master hand of 
Milton. In a nut-shell here's the story, 

Milton used as substance of his myth. 

Sometime in the past the strength or pith 
Lurking in the frame of Satan, urged him. 
Aided by a host of rebel angels. 
Bloody war to wage in Heaven 'gainst the 
King of Heaven and his band of loyal 



64 "Sweetness and Light 



Angels. Long the contest raged with ire ; 

But the strength allied with Heaven's sire, 
In the end, exerted undisputed 
Sway, throughout the realms of Heaven, having 
Banished Satan, with his rebel band of 
Angels, from the happy light of Heaven, 

To the distant, gloomy region, known, 

Lit'rature records, as Hell, to own, 

As their studied plan and purpose, foul and 
Dire revenge against the throne of Heaven. 
Satan, in his new abode, as soon as 
He'd recovered strength he'd lost, quite lost, as 

Consequence of his defeat in Heav'n, 

Which was aggravated six or sev'n 

Fold, no doubt, by shameful banishment to 
Hell, made haste to summon to a council. 
All his warriors, since through them he hoped to 
Form a plan by which eternally to 

Execute their common purpose. In 

This, a gen'ral council, Satan's kin. 
Viewed from standpoint of their common spirit, 
After more or less discussion orr the 
Part of foremost leaders, were, it seems, quite 
Well agreed upon a plan that follows. 

Satan, by the plan adopted, was 

Chosen special envoy for the cause, 
Which required that he, old Satan, after 
Journ'ing to the earth, disguised as serpent. 
Should gain entrance to the Gard'n of Eden, 
And, while in that Paradise, should tempt both 



A Volume of Poems 65 



Eve and Adam that forbidden fruit, 
Knowledge giving, which would never suit 
God in Heaven, they, in faithless zeal, should 
Deign to eat. In execution of the 
Cause by Satan there was great success, and 
God, as punishment, forth from the Garden 

Cast the faithless pair to win their bread 
Through what's known as ceaseless toil and dread. 
Not alone for Eve and Adam but for 
Each succeeding generation harder 
Grew the task of living. Meanwhile, haply, 
God beheld man's lot with pity ever 

Growing to assume the form of love, 
Perfect love, that, coming from Above, 
Should become the father of the Son of 
Man, the Son of God, or Jesus Christ of 
Bethany, who, as the great exemplar 
Of God's love for erring man, the master 

Of all forms of weakness, even death, 
Should but prove himself to be. His breath 
Simply, should o'ercome all space and time and 
Even all the pow'rs of nature. Those who 
Should accept him. as Messias, Master, 
Heirs of God and joint heirs of himself might 

Be; and thus, through Jesus Christ, as that 
Love, which on the throne of Heaven sat. 
Paradise, which once was lost, by sin of 
Eve and Adam, once for all, it seems, might 
Be regained. And thus concludes the second 
And the last of our examples given 



dd "Sweetness and Light 



To illustrate myth or fable. Ought 
Something more be said, as food for thought, 
Ere this little poem be concluded? 
Will the poem make quite clear to all who 
Chance to read it, both the nature and the 
Purport, that attach to myth or fable? 



A Volume of Poems 67 



AT THE SEA-SHORE 

Worn by the toils and cares that come 
To those whose task it is to win 
Their bread as simple tillers of 
The soil, one day in latter part 
Of June, I felt constrained to quit 
My farm, to take a view of what 
The poet famed has styled, in words 
Expressive of the simple truth, 
"The sea, the sea, the open sea, 
The blue, the fresh, the ever free." 

Beneath a massive oak quite near 
The shore, rock-ribbed and ancient as 
The sun, I gave my weary limbs 
Repose. I slept. I dreamed; and in 
My dream, I took, or seemed to take, 
An ocean-view, transcending far. 
In beauty, splendor, and in true 
Significance, the Alpine scenes. 
Or such, withal, as Mammoth Cave 
And great Yosemite afford. 

The dream I had presented to 
My mind, a panoramic view 
Of all the nations of the earth. 
Illumined by the light of truth. 
No longer superstition bound 



68 "Sweetness and Light 



The hearts and minds of men. 
No ancient faith, no system of 
Philosophy outworn, but truth — 
Such truth as modern science owns — 
Maintained in all, a helpful life. 

The dream I had, while at the shore, 
Reminds me of a solemn fact : 
Among the savage peoples of 
The earth, religious faith, in no 
Small part, is but the child that's born 
Of dreams and shadows. But, among 
The cultured peoples of the earth, 
Religious faith, in larger part, 
Is based on reason, which, in turn, 
Is based on scientific fact. 



Volume of Poems 69 



TO EX-KAISER BILL 

Ex-Kaiser Bill! Ex-Kaiser Bill! 

Whatever lies in store for you, 

In years that are to be, you've learned 

The lesson well, we trust, that, though 

The world be anything except 

A paradise, no longer will 

It tolerate autocracy. 

Or any other Feudal form 

Of government. "The world do move." 

Old systems ever are outworn. 

And yet the progress of the world, 

Too great to please the lives of some, 

Is much too slow, perhaps, to please 

The majesty of others. Yes, 

It's true, Ex-Kaiser Bill, to-day, 

Just as it has been true in times 

Gone by, the greatest problem that 

A public man (and ev'ry man 

Should be a public man) can find 

To solve, within the field or sphere 

Of government, is that whereby 

He may acquire the faculty. 

Whose office is to teach him this : 

Just when exped'ency requires 

Loose rein; just when a firmer hand. 



70 '^Sweetness and Light 



WAR 

"War, the greatest curse of all the ages, 

Still abides with us," they say, 
With a carnage that's outrageous ; 

And a purpose clear as day." 

Well, my friends, I sometimes wonder just how 

Clear the object or the purpose that 
Actuates the minds of those who fighting 

Are, at present, really is. The cat. 

Sly and cunning, knows both when and how to 

Hunt its prey. The bat confined. 
In the daytime, to its dark and narrow 

Dwelling, soon as dusk appears, inclined 

Straightway is to seek its happy fields of 

Prey, and through a passage toilsome. Man 

Selfish, crafty, preys upon his brother 
Soothingly, as with a gentle fan. 

War, though inhumane, is ever nat'ral. 

And all nat'ral things seem subject to 
What is called the law of change or growth. Won't 

War in time its cruel self outdo? 



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AUTOCRACY AND DEMOCRACY 

In barb'rous ages far remote, 

Men lived in fam'lies, tribes or clans, 

Which tried to take incessant note 
Of all their neighbors' warlike plans. 

From such a social state of things. 
Evolved full many a jealous broil 

Of which the bard or minstrel sings 
In stately measures, wrought with toil. 

And hence these fam'lies, tribes or clans 
Called forth, as warlike chiefs, in times 

Of doubt, the strongest of their bands, 
The bravest, noblest of their climes. 

These chiefs assumed the right to rule 
Their peoples with an "iron rod". 

And found, ere long, as useful tool, 
Or prop, the teachings born of God. 

Autocracy had now begun 

To rule the sons of earth. Its ways 
Were worldly wise, and shaped to shun 

The obstacles of later days. 

For centuries it moved along 

Successfully, until it had 
To face democracy, whose song 

Of hope and cheer made millions glad. 



72 "Sweetness and Light 



Democracy, supported well 

By doctrine known as laisse faire, 

Advanced by men, like Smith, to tell 
The truth, still grew, in spite of care, 

Till now it had become so strong, 

That more than half the pow'rs of earth 
Were on its side. Yet, still that song 

It sang, a song it knew at birth. 

Such strength, at last, democracy 
Assumed, when this world-war of ours 

Began, we trust, autocracy, 

When peace be won, will claim no pow'rs. 



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OUR FLAG 

Old Glory is our Nation's flag. 

We honor her today as ne'er 

Before we've done, for, though she's stood, 

Throughout her history renowned. 

The symbol of democracy, 

Within the bounds of U. S. A., 

She has a broader meaning than 

She used to have, for now she's held 

To symbolize democracy 

For all the nations of the earth. 

Is this, the broader meaning of 

Our flag, compatible with that 

Which, formerly, she had conferred 

Upon her, in the strife, which gave 

Us, once for all, our liberty 

Political? The answer comes. 

In accents clear, from North, from South, 

From East, from West, from ev'ry part 

Of U. S. A., "One boat must be 

The common transport of us all." 

Too long we've tried to sail 
Life's sea, each, in his boat. 
His little boat, and all alone. 
The time is ripe when nations, just 
Like individuals, should see 



74 "Sweetness and Light 



That they have interests, which are 
But common to them all, and which, 
For reasons obvious, should be 
Protected, by some means, in which. 
Indeed, they each and all should share. 

Our flag, the Stars and Stripes, of which 

We all are proud, and prouder now 

Than we have ever been before, 

Symbolic is, in large degree. 

Which, in the years, that come and go, 

Is growing larger, all the while, 

Of liberty and union, here. 

At home, in U. S. A. Among 

The states or pow'rs it signifies 

A union of democracies. 



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THEN AND NOW 

"In time of peace prepare for war," 

The nations used to say, 
As if, through armaments, alone. 

They hoped to save the day. 

And fed on doctrine such as this 

Almost till now, it seems. 
Through war and carnage they've awoke 

To find their hopes are dreams. 

And now they seek with one accord 

The sword to relegate, 
And in its place to substitute 

The food of later date. 

And what's the food of later date 

To which we now allude? 
It's reason higher than the kind. 

That would the sword include. 

And in this purpose lofty, grand, 
We know they will not fail, 

In gazing at the stars on high. 
To breast the stormy gale. 

For statesmanship in ev'ry land 

Is wise enough, we feel, 
Should ev'ry other means prove void, 

To use the bloody steel. 



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OUR BOYS RETURNING HOME 

Now, the war is ended, 
Across the surging waves, 

All our boys still living, 
Will homeward come again. 

Singing songs of triumph. 
Rejoicing all the way. 

At the railway stations 

Throughout our spacious land, 
At the ports and harbors 

Of dear old Uncle Sam, 
Glad as all creation, 

We'll greet our gallant boys. 

Never in the future, 

In all the years to be. 
Into bloody conflict. 

May we, with warlike states. 
Shamefully be drawn, to 

Preserve our liberty. 



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THE MISSION OF POETRY 

The work of scholarship professional 

Is this : to be a constant reaper of 
All kinds of truth which any profit may 

Afford to man. No other work so great. 

The task of law professional appears 
To be, in simplest manner, to adjust 

The rights of parties, in accordance with 
The principles of law and equity. 

The duty that devolves on medicine 

Is this : alleviation to afford 
To those who suffer from what's called disease, 

And means preventive of disease to use. 

The business of theology is what? 

Alas, I do not know ! And yet, I feel, 
It ought to be to help mankind to solve 

The complex problems of a growing world. 

So much, in gen'ral terms, of scholarship, 

Of law, of medicine, theology. 
Now let us see what business, task or work's 

Allotted or assigned to poetry. 

All poetry of whatsoever kind. 
In some degree, at least, didactic is. 

And yet the paramount importance of 
All poetry consists in its appeal 



78 "Sweetness and Light" 



To human sense of beauty, pleasure, and 
Of inspiration, through the mental views. 

Or scenes, or visions, it arouses in 

The human mind, of life, not simply as 

It is just now, but as it would be in 

The land "Utopian", the mystic land 
Of "Nowhere", where nor dreams nor shadows would 

Appear to dim the light of perfect day. 



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MUSIC 

Music, in the ancient Grecian sense, included a wide 

Range of subjects such as called for an appreciation 

Of the masterpieces of the greatest poets of the , 

Ancient world; such subjects, also, as enabled one to 

Take some part in private entertainments or in sacred 

Games or in the paean sung upon the field of battle. 

Music, in the modern sense, is quite a diff'rent thing. It 

Takes but slight, if any cognizance, of poetry, with 

All its rules concerning what are called poetic foot, and 

Rhyme, and rhythm, and poetic thought, the last of which must 

Constitute the beauty, harmony, and inspiration. 

Which, of verse, but not of prose, are said to be the essence. 

Music, in the modern sense, with slight regard to verse, seems 
To concern itself, almost exclusively, with time and 
Notes, with sharps and flats, with training of the voice, the ear, the 
Eye, the hand, and other matters quite akin to these. All 
Culture of such kind is excellent and should receive much 
Emphasis in home, in school, in church, in daily living. 

Music, in the ancient Grecian sense? Or music, in the 

Modern sense? Of these two methods which is better? Both these 

Methods, there can be no doubt, are excellent, but which is 

Better must depend, in ev'ry case, on circumstance. Each 

One who may, prefers, of course, the ancient, thorough-going 

Method of the culture-seeking, beauty-loving Grecians. 

But, however, method in the art of music is a 

Thing of secondary worth. By either method we are 

Glad to welcome music more and more. In all our schools, our 

Churches, and our homes, and ev'rywhere, more music let us 

Have, for music is an element, at any rate, of 

All that's known as poetry, or even as religion. 



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APPROVED METHOD IN THE STUDY OF HISTORY 

History the greatest is of 

All great subjects, we are 
Called upon to study in our 

Schools or elsewhere. And far 

Greater as a subject is it 

Than our youthful minds can 
Master through the means afforded 

By our public schools. Scan 

Quickly, reader, what we have to 

Say about the matter 
That pertains to method useful, 

Facts irrelavent, to batter. 

As we study history. Well, 

First of all, it's very 
Proper that we well remember 

Gently to make merry 

Of full many facts that are as 

Dry and tiresome as they 
Can be, such as names of battles 

And of places, really; 

Names of warriors, statesmen, kings and 

Emp'rors, popes and other 
Less important beings, of such 

Episodes as offer 



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Slight, if any real assistance, 

To a student such as 
You or I, and dates, except a 

Few, a very few. Has 

Anyone of all our readers 

Failed to "catch" the thought that 

We've been trying to convey in 
Ref'rence to the tomcat 

Or the simple gnat, we ought to 

Try full well to shun, and 
Not the elephant, we ought to 

Try to swallow. Quicksand 

Has, no doubt, its uses. Endless 

Detail, such as that we 
Find in hist'ry, has its uses, 

Also. But we really 

Feel, great movements, more than simple 

Detail, should receive our 
Careful thought, for such shed 

More of light and power. 



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GREAT MOVEMENTS IN HISTORY 

As we survey, with endless care, 
The works, histor'ans have prepared 
With toil and research, which have bared 

Full many things of beauty rare 

And true significance to man. 

Long buried in the earth, perhaps. 
Or in obliv'on which enwraps 

All things in darkness which began 

Its seeds to scatter soon as first 
Creation's morning bright and fair 
Appeared, we find the footprints bare 

That time, upon the earth, since erst 

A home upon our planet, in 

Its present form, it's made, present 
Resemblance, in some ways well meant, 

For aught we know, its life akin 

To that of earth's contour to show. 
As earth's contour, alternately. 
Presents to view, as some would say, 

Its difif' rent scenes, so time, the slow 

Effect to raze, that nulls its task, 
When sameness is its only rule. 
Variety, as useful tool. 

With carefulness, displays. No mask 



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Has time seen fit to use to keep 
From those who try to understand 
Her dealings with a little band 

Of mortals like ourselves. The deep, 

Though simple fact is this : that in 
Men's lives, as in all earthly things, 
A never-ending song it sings. 

Of movements great and small, the din 

Of which world-history records. 
Of movements small in history. 
We waive consideration free, 

Just now, and fully stake all odds 

On treatment that is somewhat brief, 
Of movements great in history. 
The first great movement that we see 

Is that which seems to bring relief 

Of social kind, to those compelled 

To live alone. It is, indeed, 

A movement such, that from its seed, 
Perhaps, is really, truly spelled 

The people that compose, it seems. 
The population of the earth. 
The outcome of the simple birth 

Of this first movement are the beams, 



84 "Sweetness and Light 



Which constitute foundation strong 
On which is built the city-state. 
And so, of very ancient date, 

The second movement great and long 

Is one which culminates, at last. 
In what we call the city-state. 
A movement which is very great. 

Though in its jaws we're prone to cast 

Reproaches of the basest rank, 
Is that which follows close behind 
A movement, we still have in mind, 

A movement neither lean nor lank, 

From which we have the city-state. 
The movement, in itself, is one. 
Which, when its task is fully done, 

Results in empire, which, of late, 

Is falling into disrepute. 

When empire still is holding sway, 
A movement great does win the day, 

A movement, Roman, Angle, Jute, 

And Saxon, Dane, and Norman, and 
The leading peoples of the West 
Of Europe soon embrace, as best 

Of all the movements which the land 



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Affords for those who seek the truth 
In things religious; and, perhaps, 
We hardly need to say, it raps, 

The movement gently raps, forsooth, 

Upon the head of ancient myth, 
Once sacred held by some, it seems, 
And interposes what it deems 

The sacred truth, the monolith 

Of Deity. The fourth of our 
Great movements is religious in 
Its nature; and it's ever been, 

From birth till now, a growing pow'r. 

Accessions bringing to itself. 

From time to time, from what are known, 

In ev'ry place, in ev'ry zone. 
Of earth, in which a thirsty elf. 

For greater knowledge, makes appeal. 
As "worlds of scientific lore" 
That coming are still more and more. 

And which, we cannot help but feel, 

Will come until the Alchemist 

Of Time shall abdicate His throne. 
To-day we're trying to atone 

For what we call an endless list 



86 "Sweetness and Light 



Of cruel wars, of petty strifes, 
Of murders, crimes of ev'ry kind. 
In some degree, we really find. 

Whatever tunes, with selfish fifes, 

Base rulers try to play, by what 

We call our movement number five, 
A movement ev'rywhere alive, 

Since wide as earth it is. But, but 



The name by which this movement now 
Is known to most of us, is that 
Of world-democracy, most pat 

And timely, as we all allow. 



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THE WORK OF FOUR GREAT ORATORS 

When, at the close of the Peloponnesian 

War, all the states of Greece lay exhausted 
Worn out by endless domestic contentions, 

Then, from the North, with forces invincible, 
Philip of Macedon, came, his kingdom. 

O'er all the Grecians, soon to establish. 
Meanwhile, at Athens, was one called Demosthenes, 

Who, by his wonderful eloquence, tried, so it 
Seems, to arouse the Athenians and some 

Others, effective resistance, somehow, to 
Make. How perfect in structure, how bitter and 

Violent, are the invectives, Demosthenes 
Hurled against Philip ! And, though, as "Philippics," these 

Speeches are known, the term "Philippics," 
Often is given to writings of others. 

If, as it happens, they're bitter and violent. 



When to burn the city Rome 
And to murder many great and 

Noble men of Roman blood 
Catiline, a famous spendthrift 



And a man of low repute. 
Foul conspiracy concocted, 

Cicero, an orator 

Unsurpassed, if fully equalled, 



88 "Sweetness and Light 



In the days of classic Greece, 

Just as in the days of classic 
Rome, in what is sometimes termed 

Purity and elegance of 

Diction, and in eloquence 

Grand, magnificent, sublime, in 

Manner bold and daring, took 

Care, the Romans proper knowledge 

To supply, of facts that bore 
On the horrid plan and purpose 

Of the wretched Catiline. 
And, as ev'ry modern scholar 

Really knows, or ought to know. 

Mainly, through the skill and prudence, 

Cicero, the consul, then 
Seemingly displayed, the city, 

Destined, so it seems, to be. 
In the future, proud and haughty 

Mistress of the world, was snatched 
From the cruel jaws of ruin. 

When George the Third, the half insane 

And very arbitrary King 
Of Britain, tried, through Parliament, 

The growing rights political, 
Of colonies American, 

Unjustly, to suppress, who else, 
Save Edmund Burke, remembered is. 

As champion supreme, of that 
Great principle, which, in these days, 

So universal is, and, which. 
The name, conciliation, bears? 



Volume of Poems 89 



When Haine once took a stand 

So ignominious 

Against the tariff and 

In favor of state-rights 

Extended far enough 

To nullify a law 

Of Congress, since he held 

The tariff, in itself. 

Unconstitutional, 

Then Webster thundered in 

Reply, for two long days, 

A mighty argument. 

Defending, forcefully. 

The Constitution. And, 

From Webster's time till now, 

This speech of his has found 

A place, important, in 

The field of lit'rature. 



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GREAT DEEDS OF FOUR MODERN STATESMEN 

In Italy, the famous statesman called Cavour, 
Will be remembered long, by all Italians, who 
Themselves shall comit true patriots, for things, he did 
To unify the petty states of Italy. 

In Germany, it was the statesman Bismarck, who, 
Through policy of "blood and iron", as it's called, 
From twenty-four or more of warlike German states, 
Brought forth, of Feudal grandeur, modern Germany. 

In England, Gladstone was the statesman, through whose wise 

And lib'ral policies, for British subjects all. 

The way was paved, for equal rights before the law 

Of Britain Great, and for a true democracy. 

In our United States, when foul rebellion of 
The southern states, against the Union, with a rage 
Most shameful, was begun, whose statesmanship save that 
Of Lincoln, took us wisely, safely through it all? 



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AMBITION 

In early college days it used to be 

My privilege to listen to a free 
Discussion of "Ambition is the source 

Whence springs all nobleness in those we see." 

I cannot now recall the arguments 

Invoked in jest or earnestness by "gents" 

And ladies of the college, in attempts 

To prove their chosen side, by why and whence. 

I cannot now recall just what, indeed, 

My early views upon man's need 
Of more ambition may have been. But, now, 

For many years, I've tried to pay some heed 

To all such subjects, I am sure; and, now, 
Maturer thought, perhaps, makes me to bow 

And stoop to many things and thoughts 

Which once I did not recognize. But, how 

I view the subject, at the present time, 
It's easy quite to state in prose or rhyme 

Or any other sort of way that seems 
Delightful to one's taste, since now I climb 

With ease to rugged heights which once I thought 
I could not reach. It's true, ambition's wrought 

A noble work in man ; and, yet, it's true 
That other things some good to man have brought. 



92 "Sweetness and Light 



Strong character inherited, good sense 

Acquired through any means, and mind, not dense, 
But fully cultivated, and some things. 

Besides, afford of man's success, the whence, 

No less than does ambition. Hence I'll say. 

Ambition is an attribute, for aye, 
Of man, and serves its little purpose, all 

The while, assisting in its little way. 



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HOME 

O home, sweet home ! Oh, where, on earth, 

Can any other place like thee 
Be found? Thou art the place of birth 

Of man, the place in which we see 
His character both shaped and stamped, 

As nowhere else it is, for tasks 
Of future years, although revamped 

Of ev'ry life that ever basks 

In sunlight, twenty-million times, 

It may have been, as some now think. 

O home, dear home ! No place like thee 

To live in; and no place, withal. 
Like thee to die in. Hence how free, 

Upon our stubborn knees, to fall. 
In rev'rence pure for thee, we ought 

To be, especially, since true 
It seems to be, that thou art bought 

With such a price, that all too few 

Of all the sons of earth, from thee, 
Full benediction, do receive. 



94 "Sweetness and Light 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOL 

If true it be, "That mind's the measure of the man," 

It's truer still, the institution which devotes 
Itself, exclusively, to freeing from the ban 

Of ignorance, the native mind of man, as quotes 
A famous modern author from an author that. 

Though famous as himself, lived years before his time, 
With due regard to armaments which sometimes get 

The favor of us all, perhaps, through prose or rhyme. 
Without a doubt, "a mighty bulwark," is. Indeed, 

If man enlightened, fully, in the things in which 
He lives and moves, in time, shall ever be, the creed, 

Not simply of his party, or his church he'll hitch 
His wagon to, good as that creed may be, but, that. 
The public school sets forth, so grand and yet so pat. 



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THE SCHOLAR 

We met a gentleman the other day. 

He is a scholar very great 
And very famous, too, as millions, gay, 

As well as sober, now, of late. 
In ev'ry quarter of the globe, are free 

To testify. Of many things, 
He said to us, if we should live to see 

Both good and ill, on fleeting wings 
Of time, borne to ourselves, a million years, 

There's one we shall not soon forget. 
"It takes", said he, his eyes suffused with tears, 

"All peoples and all life, you bet, 

To make the world such as it is to-day; 
And, for its growth, no man the debt can pay." 



96 "Sweetness and Light 



THE POLITICfAN 

We rode full fifty miles the other day, 

My friend and I, to hear 

A politician dear 
To many jinghoists who wrongly lay 
Much blame, for ills of government and law. 

On changes that are made 

By those who seem to wade 
Knee-deep in the affairs of nation or 
Of state, for honor, or for money, or 

For other, higher cause. 

And as, to think, I pause 
What next to write about my theme so raw, 

I recollect what Tennyson once wrote 

About the same, Lord Tennyson of note. 



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THE FARMER 

In former days the farmer was 

So simple in his ways of living that, 
At times, by those engaged in work 

Of other kinds, as "hay-seed" he was known. 
But time has changed, in many ways. 

The early status of the farmer, so 
That, now, he is, in fact, a man 

Of ways complex and difficult to scan. 

Let's take a somewhat casual view 

Of what the farmer thinks he is ; of what 
He is. A scientific man, 

The farmer thinks he is ; a greater man 
Than e'er his fathers hoped to be. 

And reason sound and firm he has on which 
To base this creed of his. He's been 

To agricultural school, or better still. 

Perhaps, he's had the training of 

A college-graduate. At any rate 
He's well supplied with knowledge of 

The art of farming. Soil-analysis 
Is A, B, C to him. The food 

For different kinds of crops he's studied long. 
He's well informed, in ev'ry way. 

About the sources of such things 



98 "Sweetness and Light 



As used in fertilizers are, 

Such as phosphoric acid, potash, lime, 
And nitrogen. Of beetles, moths 

And other insects that molest his crops 
The farmer has a knowledge that 

Is more or less exact. Of different breeds 
Of stock and poultry, too, of freight. 

Of special legislation that's designed 

To meet the farmer's urgent needs. 

Of markets, transportation, roads and things 
Of such a kind a store of facts 

Almost incredible he's really known 
To have. Of automobiles, too. 

He has, indeed, a knowledge that's 
Surprising. To the farmer here's 

Good luck, success. No "hay-seed" any more ! 



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THE CLERGYMAN 

The best of all our men, perhaps, 
Is he, the clergyman; and yet, 
For some of us to understand, 

He's difficult, indeed. He raps 

And hammers, saws and drives, with tools 
So out of date, he seems to some 
Of us more like a quirk or crank 

Than like a man of sense. He rules 

His little flock, it seems, through means 
Which some believe no longer should 
Be used. And yet the clergyman 

Is learned, wise. What awful scenes 

Of protest from his little flock 
He'd witness, should he fling away 
His tools so crude, and, standing on 

His rugged feet, the door unlock 

Through which, indeed, may enter in 
The light of day! No single man's 
At fault, perhaps. If fault there be, 

We think it shared by all. All sin 

Is weakness. Time's the only cure, 
We have for weakness, since it gives 
Us endless opportunity 

To grow in strength. We must endure. 



loo - "Sweetness and Light 



THE POET 

Of many things 
The poet sings, 

And sings because 
He must. The flaws 

Of nature do 

Not seem so few, 

Or yet so great, 
That he should hate 

To do his work. 
Or ever shirk 

The task at hand. 
In ev'ry land, 

The poet finds. 
Old Nature binds 

Her parts in One, 
With deathless sun, 

To permeate 

The mass. And fate, 

To him, is naught 
But error fought, 



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In modern days, 
In many ways, 



By ev'ry creed 
Of worthy seed. 

The poet last — 
Not slow or fast — 

In ev'ry clime, 
Throughout all time. 

Should rue his lot. 
The poet's pot, 

Or cauldron, boils. 
With endless toils, 

And efforts great 
That to relate 

Its contents terse. 
In simple verse, 

It may succeed. 
Of life and deed 

Of insect, bird, 
And flower, stirred 

In heart and mind, 
Like one that's blind. 

The poet writes, 

Of ghosts and sprights. 



I02 "Sweetness and Light 



Of myths and creeds, 
0£ daring deeds 

Of heroes old, 
Whose works untold 

Might still remain. 
In noble strain, 

The poet sings. 
Whatever things 

Appeal to him. 
As Jack or Jim, 

Who likes to dwell. 
As he might tell. 

On movements which, 
By stitch and stitch, 

Have made the earth 
A place of worth. 

Though full of flaws 
Are all its laws 

And all its ways — 
Such things delays 

No poet great. 
At any rate. 

To touch upon. 
Before they're gone, 

Beyond the thought 

Of those who wrought. 



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And wrought full well, 
The truth to tell, 

To make their prayer 
Ring true. What care 

The poet shows, 
Each mortal knows. 

To make his work, 
He cannot shirk. 

So broad and deep. 
It will not sleep. 



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THE HUNTER 

Long, long ago, in the age of tradition, 

Nimrod, the hunter, is said to have strayed, 

Over the hills and the plains of his kingdom. 
Borne by a steed that detested a jade. 

Many a Nimrod, in ages historic, 

Aping the lion and tiger, his kin, 
Roaming o'er copses and fields and morasses, 

Thinking, no, never, his act is a sin, 

Hunts both for pleasure as well as for profit, 
Innocent creatures that no one will harm. 

Even to-day, with our boasted humaneness. 
Many a man, both in storm and in calm, 

Scours the regions about him extending, 
Shooting and killing whenever he may. 

What of the laws we've already enacted, 
And with a purpose that, even today, 

Something that savors of higher protection 
Both for the bird and the animal, too, 

Somehow, yes, somehow, may work itself out? And, 
What of all things, does it profit to do. 

Trying enforcement of law to effect, of 

Law that we know is enacted before 
Even a sentiment strong in its favor 

Anywhere seems to exist? Of a score, 



Volume of Poems 105 



And, if the judgment of some ought to count, of 

Many a law in addition, that's said 
Still in the law-books to stay, though, in wisdom 

Hoary, it never was made, and, so, dead, 

Dead, in reality, ever has been, what. 
What shall we say? As is often most true, 

Landmarks of time, such as laws, are not records, 
Which, of all records of earth, save a few. 

Prove but the greatest of follies. For each, yes. 
Each of our laws, whatever its flaws. 

Serves a wise purpose, as most of us argue. 
Even the hunter who laughs at the laws, 

Sees their true meaning and runs little risk, while, 
Bound to their sordid, commercial pursuits. 

Men of all classes neglect the high duty. 
Owed, we believe, to the innocent brutes. 



io6 "Sweetness and Light 



TO THE LAWYER 

lawyer, whereso'er you be, 

Or whither you may hope to flee, 

To you I dedicate this lay ; 
And with you may it ever stay, 

A starry light, through darksome night. 
Through mazes thick, where legal right, 

Can scarcely be discerned from what 
Is known as legal wrong, no rut 

Concealing from your view, as you 
Pursue the toilsome way, which, through 

Each nook and corner of your course. 
Invites your footsteps. But such force 

Of understanding as I need. 

My task, with clearness, now to read, 

Omnipotence provide. Oh ! yes, 

1 now discern, I think, I "guess," 

The threads of my discourse. Oh, sing, 
Each lawyer brave ; oh, sing, and bring 

To bear upon your life, each day, 
Through whatsoever means your may, 



A Volume of Poe'ms 107 



A greater mastery of law, 
In all its applications, for 

It's growing constantly, we know, 
Though we, in learning it, be slow. 

Sing subjects that, in former days. 
To learn, you studied hard, in ways. 

That made you burn the midnight oil. 
Sing Keener's Cases wrought with toil, 

And Gardner's Notes, that simple are. 
And, comprehensive, more, by far, 

Than true exactness would require; 
Sing these, to music of your lyre. 

As you survey, with growing zeal. 
The law of contracts : and, then, wheel 

About, while seated in your chair. 
Beside your office desk, the care 

Of which entrusted is to some 
One other than yourself, and hum 

A song, or else a sweet refrain. 
Productive of, at least, some gain. 

Of Doctor Bilelow, on law 

Of torts. Sing on, both of and for. 

The law of crime, expounded well, 

By Clark. And having wheeled a spell. 



io8 "Sweetness and Light 



Prepare to sing of Merwin's law 
Of equity, devoid of flaw, 

And very excellent. Sing, now, 
Again, and sing this time, of how 

The courts interpret and apply 
The law of bills and notes, the sly 

And learned Tiedeman wrote about. 
Sing Chitty, clear as day, and out 

And out, delightful, e'er to read. 
And, having wheeled again, take heed 

To sing of Cooley, Clarke and Beach, 
And, also, Williston, who teach 

Important branches that concern 
The law. Sing, also, in their turn, 

McKelvey, Story, Gardner, and, 
Withal, a somewhat husky band 

Of other legal lights. And, yes. 
Of twenty branches, more or less. 

Of law you will have sung. Again, 
Now sing, and sing, with sweet refrain, 

Since you have turned and wheeled about, 
Of statutes, that your state's sent out, 

And laws of Congress numberless. 
Sing, last, I pray, and tell us ; yes, 

Do tell us all, both near and far. 
Just how to captivate the bar. 



Volume of Poems 109 



RAIN IN SUMMER 

How the rain-drops cool, refreshing, dance, 

Reel and totter, falling from the skies 

Dark and vaulted, to the thirsty earth, 

In the good old summer-time! And 

How the thunder roars, as if it were 

Unrelenting, in its madness, or 

Stubborn, even, in its studied plan. 

Plan that's wreaking direful vengeance ! How, 

Also, flashes, in the heavens, the 

Lightning, darting into ev'ry nook. 

Nook and corner, of the firmament ! 

What a queer phenomenon, the rain, 

Which, in summer, falls upon the earth ! 

Patter, patter, on the house-top, through 
All the weary hours of day and night. 
With its dull and dreary monotone, 
Which, at times, by peals of thunder, near, 
Near or distant, for a moment, is. 
Seemingly, o'erpowered, ceaseless falls. 
Falls the rain, while darkness deep involves. 
Things of earth and sky, in constant gloom, 
Save, when flashes bright of lightning, here. 
Here and there, and now and then, are seen. 
Which, athwart the air, have burned their way. 
What a queer phenomenon, the rain, 
Which, in summer, falls upon the earth ! 



no "Sweetness and Light 



TO ASTRONOMY 

Astronomy, no greater science than 

Thyself has ever yet 
Been born, though, out of older science than 
Thyself, thou hast, by slow 

Degrees, emerged, invested w^ith the task, 
Far more than other sciences, the mask. 

Which has disguised, in part, at least, the face 

Of nature, to uplift. 
No other science can produce, it's thought. 
Effects so broad'ning and 

Enlight'ning, on the minds of men, as those 
Which thou dost rightly claim, in spite of foes. 

And thou, not simply broad'ning, and, withal, 

Enlight'ning art. Thy work, 
In other ways, is useful, too, like that 
Of other sciences. 

The navigator, and the man who land 
Surveys, and others seek thy helping hand. 



A Volume of Poems iii 



THE IVY 

Creeping little Ivy, sprung from lowly birth, 
Decorating buildings ev'rywhere on earth ! 
Ever climbing upward, broadening is its course, 
Setting an example of delightful force 
Bearing on responsiveness to what, it seems, 
Termed as higher Power ought to be. Though beams. 
Gorgeous beams of sunlight, clothed in forms of truth, 
Ev'rywhere and always are for those, forsooth, 
Who have eyes with lenses focused, we may say. 
As they should be, still there's nothing else to-day 
Anywhere in all plant nature that can shed 
Greater lustre on the living and the dead 
Than the simple, loyal unassuming plant 
Called the Ivy, known and honored ev'rywhere. 

Twining massive buildings, wrought of brick or stone. 
Adding to them beauty such as may atone 
For defects in structure of a thousand kinds, 
Pleasing to the student when, perchance, he finds 
That he is a member of the Senior Class 
Of some famous school in which e'er to amass 
Worlds of knowledge and of culture he has spent 
Precious, golden hours of youth, so firmly bent 
Somehow e'er his purpose at the school has been, 
Not infrequently's the Ivy found. So, in 
All-embracing Nature, easily we see 
Some unfailing uses of the Ivy, we, 

Inadvertently, at least, might fail to note. 

And these uses are important, one and all. 



112 "Sweetness and Light 



FOR THETFORD ACADEMY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 

We've traveled South; we've journeyed West; we've lived 

In other lands ; but nowhere else on all 

The earth a place like Thetford Hill we've found. 

It's true, we feel, that nowhere else is air 

So pure, or sunlight quite so bright, or what 

The chemist knows as H^O, in all 

Respects, resembles quite so much, perhaps, 

Proverb'al fountains of perpetual youth. 

One hundred years ago the school, the light 

Of all the region 'round about, upon 

This hill was founded; and, through all the years, 

The intervening years, that since have come 

And gone, the influence of this school, upon 

The whole, has held its own, to say the least. 

In recognition of this fact, the sons 

And daughters of this school, her friends, of whom 

She has a host, to do her homage, for 

They're thrilled with thoughts of what she is and was. 

From far and near now congregated are. 

For this old school of ours a happy day! 

The history of Alma Mater to 

Her sons and daughters here assembled seems 

Delightful to recall. Events of days 

Long since consigned to limbo find to-day 

A welcome place within the minds of all 



A Volume of Poems 113 



Her children; and, for many days and weeks 
To come, the same will furnish them, no doubt, 
With food for happy thought, or better, still, 
With that on which they may conduct, in fact, 
A conversation, man-enobling, grand. 

The friends of this old institution feel 

In her, to-day, no less of pride, for what 

She is and was, than do her steady sons 

And daughters fair. No words seem adequate, 

E'en though they be compiled by those, we call 

The greatest artists of the age, to give 

To one a fair impression of the thoughts 

And feelings, that now sway, both those who are 

The children of this school, and those who are 

Its friends, so futile is the pow'r of words, 

So potent are the thoughts and feelings, too, 

Of those concerning whom, just now, we speak. 

We prophesy for this old school, the pride 

Of Thetford Hill, a school, which winters ten 

Times ten has weathered well, a lease of life. 

Which o'er another century, in full, 

Shall spread an influence, which, at once, shall be 

So worthy and so true, it will eclipse 

All past achievements, that the school has made. 

May this, our noble prophesy, ring true. 



114 "Sweetness and Light 



A CERTAIN MAN 

A certain man a vineyard plants, and lets it forth 

To husbandmen, and to a country, far away, 

Departs, there to abide. In proper season, to 

The husbandmen, he sends a servant, that, through him, 

He may receive some fruit, such as the vineyard does 

Produce. The husbandmen, however, beat the man, 

And, empty, send him from the vineyard. And, again, 

He sends another servant, and they beat him, too. 

Entreat him shamefully, and, likewise, empty, send 

Him from the vineyard. And, again, he sends a third; 

Him, too, they wound, and cast him out. Then says the lord 

Or keeper of the vineyard, "What, what shall I do? 

I'll send my well beloved son; it may be, they 

Will rev'rence him." But, when the husbandmen him see, 

They say: "This is the heir; come let us kill him, the 

Inheritance to claim." So, out they cast him from 

The vineyard, and him kill. What, therefore, shall the lord 

Or keeper of the vineyard do to them? He shall 

Destroy these husbandmen, and, unto others, he. 

Of course, the keeping of the vineyard shall entrust. 



Volume of Poems 115 



THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN 

Two men the temple enter, there to pray; 
The one a Pharisee, the other is 
A Publican. The Pharisee, thus, with 
Himself, does pray: Omnipotence, I thank 
Thee, I am not as other men, corrupt, 
Unspeakably corrupt, or even as 
This publican now standing at my side. 
Twice, ev'ry week, I fast. I give, as tithes, 
A tenth of all that I possess. And now. 
The Publican, who, at a distance, stands, 
Will not so much as heav'nward lift his eyes ; 
But, smites upon his breast, and says : To me. 
Omnipotence, be merciful, for I, 
Indeed, a man unrighteous, really am. 



ii6 "Sweetness and Light 



A CERTAIN NOBLEMAN 

A certain nobleman there is, 

Who, to a distant city, takes 

A journey, that he may receive 

A kingdom for himself, and then 

Return. And, to himself, he calls 

His servants, ten in number, and 

Delivers up to them, ten pounds, 

And says to them : Be busy till 

I come. His subjects hate to have 

Him as a ruler, and declare, 

Through message, that they will not have 

The man reign over them. And, when 

He is returned, still ruler of 

His kingdom, to himself he calls 

His servants, unto whom he has 

Entrusted money, that they may 

Report to him how much they, each, 

Have gained by trading. And then comes 

The first, and says : Your pound, O lord. 

Has gained ten pounds. And unto him 

He says : Well done. A servant good. 

Because you've faithful been, in that 

Which little is, authority. 

O'er cities ten, exert. And then 

The second comes and says : Your pound, 

O lord, has gained five pounds. And he 

To him then says : Authority, 

O'er cities five, exert. And then 

Another comes, and says : O lord. 



A Volume of Poems 117 



Behold, here is your pound, which I 
Have kept, within a napkin laid, 
For you I feared, because you are 
An austere man. You sow, at times, 
In places where you do not reap; 
And then, at times, you reap, withal, 
In places where you do not sow. 
And then he says to him : O man ! 
Why did you not my money, in 
Some bank, deposit, that, my own, 
With interest, I might require 
Again? And unto them that stand 
Near by, he says : From him the pound 
Now take, and give it unto him, 
The man right here, who has ten pounds. 



ii8 "Sweetness and Light 



A CERTAIN JUDGE 

In a city is a judge, who fears not Deity, it seems, nor 
Man regards. And, in that city, is a widow; and she comes to 
Him, and says : Avenge me of mine adversary. And he will not, 
For awhile ; but, afterwards, he says, within himself, Although I 
Fear not Deity, nor have regard for man, because this widow 
Troubleth me, I will avenge her, that she may not weary me, by 
Her continual coming. Like the widow, we should be persistent. 



A Volume of Poems 119 



THE PRODIGAL SON 

To his father, says the younger of two sons, The portion 

Of your property that's mine, by nat'ral right, now give me. 

Then the father, with his sons, his property does share. And, 

Soon the younger son departs from home, and takes his journey 

To a distant country, there to waste his property in 

Wanton living. When his property and he are parted. 

In that country, a great famine does arise, and, then, he 

Is in want. And to a man who is a dweller of that 

Country, he now joins himself, to feed his swine. But hungry 

He becomes, and no one gives him any food. Then, soon as 

To himself, he comes, he says. How many hired servants 

Of my father have both bread enough and some to spare, and 

I, with hunger, perish ! To my 

Father I will go, and say to him, that I have sinned so 

Grievously, I am not worthy to be called his son, and 

Ask him that he make me as a hired servant of his 

Own. And so he goes to meet his father. But, his father. 

Seeing him a long way off, compassion having, runs, and 

Falls upon his neck, and kisses him. The son then to his \ 

Father says that he has sinned, so grievously, he is not 

Worthy to be called his son. And then the father to his 

Servant says : Bring forth the robe, the best I have, and put it 

On him ; and a ring put on his hand, and shoes put on his 

Feet, and hither bring the fatted calf, and kill it. Let us 

Eat, and merry be, for this, my son, was dead, and now he 

Is alive again; was lost, and now is found. And merry 

They begin to be. And now the elder son is in the 

Field ; and, as he comes, advancing, near the house, he hears, it 

Seems, the sound of music and of dancing. And he calls a 



I20 "Sweetness and Light 



Servant, and of him inquires the meaning of these things. The 
Servant tells him that his brother has come home, and that his 
Father's killed the fatted calf, because he has recieved him 
Safe and sound. And he is angry, and will not go in; and, 
Therefore, to entreat him, out his father comes. But says he 
To his father : Lo, these many years I've served you, and, as 
Yet, I've never disobeyed your orders ; yet, to me, a 
Kid you've never given, that I might make merry with my 
Friends. But just as soon as this, your son, has come, who 
All his property with harlots has devoured, you have killed for 
Him, the fatted calf. And unto him his father speaks, in 
Manner such as follows : You, O son, are ever with me ; 
All my property is yours. But very fitting is it, 
We should merry be and glad, for this, your brother, dead was, 
But, again, alive is ; lost was, once, but truly found is. 



A Volume of Poems 121 



THE LOST SILVER 

Or, what woman, says he, who has pieces ten, of 
Silver, if she lose one piece, does not a candle 
Light, and sweep the house, and seek, with diligence, till 
She shall find it? When she shall have found it, she will 
Call together friends and neighbors, and will say to 
Them, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece of 
Silver, which I lost, as bright and good as ever. 



122 "Sweetness and Light 



A FIG-TREE 

In the vineyard of a certain man a 

Fig-tree stands ; and to this tree, this man, in 

Search of figs, is wont to come, though figs the 

Tree produces done. Then, to the dresser 

Of the vineyard, this, in substance, speaks the 

Man : For three successive years, now, to this 

Tree, I've come, in search of figs, and, never, 

Yet, upon this tree, a fig I've found. So, 

Cut it down : why cumbreth it the ground ? 

And the dresser of the vineyard to the 

Man makes answer such as follows : Leave the 

Tree alone, this year, until, about it, 

I shall dig, and dung it; then, if it shall 

Fruitful be, why well and good; if not, then 

Down, it will be proper, you should cut it. 



A Volume of Poems 123 



A GOOD SAMARITAN 

A certain man goes down to Jericho, 

Departing from Jerusalem; 
And on his way thereto he falls among 

Some thieves, who strip him of his clothes, 
And, after wounding him, and leaving him 

Half dead, take their departure. And, 
By chance, a certain priest comes down that way; 

And, when he sees him, passes 
Him upon the other side. A Levite, in 

Like manner, comes along, and, when 
He sees him, like the priest, he passes him 

Upon the other side. But, when 
A good Samaritan upon him comes. 

He has compassion on him, for 
He binds his wounds, both wine and oil on 

Them having poured, and sets him on 
The beast, which he himself does own, and brings 

Him to an inn, and there takes care 
Of him. And, on the morrow, when he takes 

Departure from the inn, he gives 
The host two pence and says to him. Take care 

Of him, and, if this money, which 
I leave with you be not enough to pay 

You fully for your work, when 
I, again, shall hither come, I'll pay you, in 

Addition, whatso'er is right. 



124 " S zv e e t n e s s and Light 



A SOWER 

As a sower forth does go to 

Sow his seed, it seems that 
Some does fall upon the wayside, 

Where it soon is trodden 
Down, and by the fowls of air, or 

Birds, as we may call them, 
Is devour' d, or eaten up with 

Greediness ; and some does 
Fall upon a rock, and soon as 

Upward it begins to 
Grow, it withers, since it lacks such 

Moisture, as it really 
Needs ; and some does fall among the 

Thorns, which faster than the 
Springing seed do grow, and, in due 

Time, do choke it ; other 
Falls on ground that's good, and upward 

Springs, and is productive. 



A Volume of Poems 125 



A CERTAIN RICH MAN 

There is a certain rich man, who a steward has. The rich 

Man information gets, his goods his steward wasted has. 

Accordingly, his steward to himself, he calls, and says 

To him: How is it that I hear this thing of you? Explain 

Your conduct in your stewardship, for you my steward may 

No longer be. And then the steward says within himself, 

What shall I do, for now my lord, from me, does take away 

The stewardship I cannot dig; to beg, I am ashamed. 

I am resolved what I will do, when from the stewardship 

Ejected I shall be. I will conduct myself in such ' 

A way as to receive, within the houses of the men, 

Who are the debtors of my lord, a lasting shelter and 

Protection from the elements of nature. So each one 

Of his lord's debtors, to himself, he calls, and to the first 

He says : How much is due my lord, from you ? Of oil, says he, 

An hundred measures. And he says to him, In haste make out 

Your bill for fifty, and no more. Then, to another, in 

Like manner, says, How much is due from you? Of wheat, says he, 

An hundred measures. And he says to him : And eighty will 

Suffice. And write your bill accordingly. And, when the lord. 

About these matters learns, the unjust steward he commends, 

For use of wisdom rare, himself, to save from ruin dire. 



CONTENTS 

Our Old Dog Sandy 

Song of the Sea 

To the Grasshopper 

The Song of the Brook 

The Landscape in October 

Cider and Vinegar 

The Cider-mill 

Jack Frost 

An Episode 

A March Freshet 

The Crow and the Farmers 

The Potato-beetle 

To the Man in the Moon ^ 

Politics of Mutt and Jeff 

Pussy-cat 

Our Pet Squirrel 

The Humble Bee 

To the Butterfly ' 

The Mud-wasp 

To the Woodchuck 

The Tadpole 

The Song of the Cricket 

Return, Our College-days 

Figures of Speech 

Deism 

Atheism 

Agnosticism 

Pantheism 

Unity of Faith , 

The Critic 

The Criminal , 

Death 

Conventionality of Church 

The Church-bells 

That Morning Splendid of a Bright Thanksgiving Day 

Art and Nature 

St. Nicholas 

The New Year 



CONTENTS 

Page 

Myth in Literature 6i 

At the Sea-shore 67 

To Ex-Kaiser Bill 69 

War 70 

Autocracy and Democracy 71 

Our Flag 73 

Then and Now 75 

Our Boys Returning Home 76 

The Mission of Poetry ^^ 

Music 79 

Approved Method in the Study of History 80 

Great Movements in History 82 

The Work of Four Great Orators 87 

Great Deeds of Four Modern Statesmen 90 

Ambition 91 

Home 93 

The Public School 94 

The Scholar 95 

The Politician 96 

The Farmer 97 

The Clergyman 99 

The Poet 100 

The Hunter 104 

To the Lawyer 106 

Rain in Summer 109 

To Astronomy no 

The Ivy in 

For Thetf ord Academy 112 

A Certain Man 114 

The Pharisee and the Publican 115 

A Certain Nobleman 116 

A Certain Judge 118 

The Prodigal Son 119 

The Lost Silver 121 

A Fig-tree 122 

A Good Samaritan 123 

A Sower 124 

A Certain Rich Man 125 



